PEMBERTON: Pistons dismal season sitting heavy on Frank

Toronto Raptors center Amir Johnson (15) is fouled by Detroit Pistons forward Kyle Singler, right, while trying to shoot as Detroit forward Jonas Jerebko, second from right, of Sweden, helps defend the basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, March 29, 2013, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Johnson scored 20 points to help the Raptors to a 99-82 win. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit was not expected to be a playoff team, but since the All-Star break has looked like a team in disarray.

The Pistons are just 3-16 since the All-Star break and have 13 double-digit losses. Detroit has lost eight straight home games and 12 of its last 13 overall.

The Pistons have won just one game in the month of March with one remaining.

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Detroit had a rough schedule to start March, but this past week there are no excuses.

The Pistons had two homes games in a span of six days, and against the likes of Minnesota and Toronto, both teams in the bottom 10 of the standings.

You would expect it to be a good week for the Pistons to turn things around, but the results were a 23-point loss to Minnesota and a 17-point loss to the Raptors.

“It’s just the fact that we’re at home and we’re getting whacked,” Frank said. “We’re getting whacked. To me, get whacked the whole game then. We’re competing for a half then things start to go a little bit south. Last two games we’ve just allowed that third quarter to totally turn it.

“No we haven’t quit, I think that would be totally unfair and not right. Because if we quit then (quit) right from the beginning of the game. We’re putting forth an effort.”

Frank’s message after Friday’s loss was simple, they have to get sick of being humiliated.

“The bottom line is, we have to get tired of getting embarrassed,” Frank said. “At the end of the day, we’re all professionals. You have to be motivated by competition. That’s the deal. To come in our building again and get embarrassed like we were ... this hurts.”

Detroit was just 21-33 heading into the All-Star break, but looked competitive in most games. The Pistons biggest problem in the first half of the season was blowing leads.

Lately the Pistons haven’t had many leads to blow.

What has changed since then is unclear.

“After a game where you’re embarrassed, I’m not going to make a general statement,” Frank said. “I think at the end of the year we can assess everything. I think right now, everyone associated with the Pistons can’t be very proud of what we’re doing. That’s the bottom line. I know this though, there is a lot of people who want to get this right and we will get it right.”

Getting it right will take time, but there has to be steps in the right direction. As of late there has been none.

Before Friday’s game Frank admitted, “This is probably the biggest offseason we’ve faced in probably five years.”

Frank is likely right and one of the decisions that needs to be made is his future.

In my opinion coaches are too often used as the scapegoat. The NBA is clearly a player’s league and when a team doesn’t play for a coach that guy usually doesn’t last long.

Frank doesn’t feel his team has quit on him, but if Pistons management feels they have then his days as coach could be numbered.

Drummond, Monroe era officially starts

Piston fans finally got what they have been clamoring for all season on Friday night: Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe side-by-side in the starting lineup.

Drummond returned from a back injury that caused him to miss 22 games and was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time this season.

“This is a transition that was earned by Andre,” Frank said of the decision to start Drummond. “It wasn’t given, it was earned. It’s unfortunate that he had to miss 22 games. We’re excited to look at it.”

Frank said one of the reasons he decided to start Drummond was to maximize the amount of time Drummond would play with Monroe.

The results Friday were mixed. Drummond finished with 17 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Monroe picked up another double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with five assists.

Defensively, the duo struggled to keep the Raptors’ frontcourt of Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas in check.

Johnson and Valanciunas were a combined 16 for 22 from the field. Johnson had 20 points and eight rebounds, while Valanciunas added 14 points and 13 rebounds.

It should be noted Drummond played just 19 minutes, while Johnson played 38 and Valanicunas 39.

Frank said Johnson and Valanciunas’ success Friday wasn’t necessarily a reflection on any individual player, but a team effort.

But Frank also noted that moving to power forward will be an adjustment for Monroe.

“There will be an adjustment made because you’re guarding different guys and off the ball it’s a different game for many teams,” Frank said.

“There’s adjustments that are made, things that are maybe not obvious to the naked eye, but things that from a basketball scenario that are going to be an adjustment. It will take time. Then offensively, just how the teams match up. Who do they put the better post defender on? There’s going to be a lot of things that play out, but let’s see how it all works itself out.”

Adjustments will have to be made, but it’s obvious Drummond and Monroe are key to the Pistons’ future.

The Pistons’ franchise is hoping the duo can be their frontcourt for years to come.

With just nine games left in the season there won’t be a huge sample size of what the two can do together, but the decision to get the process started was the right one.

The more they play together the better.

Dave Pemberton covers the Pistons for Journal Register Newspapers. Email him at dave.pemberton@oakpress.com and follow him on Twitter @drpemberton.